Aviation ministry clears King Amachree Airport plan in Rivers, with 11 conditions

The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has given Royal Fouche Services Limited the go-ahead to develop the proposed King Amachree Airport at Elem Ifoko in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The approval, however, comes with 11 conditions the company must satisfy before work can proceed. It was contained in a letter dated 26 October 2026 and signed by Engr. P. T. Vembe, Director of the Aerodrome Development Department, on behalf of the minister.

The letter was addressed to Prince Tonye T.J.T. Princewill, Executive Director of Royal Fouche Services Limited, the firm that applied for the approval. It followed the company's application of 25 June 2026 and a site inspection by a ministerial technical team between 2 and 4 September 2026.

What the developer must do first

The ministry wants a full airport master plan showing how the project will be built in phases, what facilities it will have and the supporting infrastructure.

It also flagged a canal running through the site. The company must study it and decide whether to divert or realign the canal, or build a bridge or other crossing.

Other conditions include studies on flooding, tides, seasonal water movement and drainage, as well as tests on the soil and groundwater to confirm the ground can carry airport structures.

The developer must also provide a reliable all-weather road to the site for construction, emergency response and the movement of passengers and cargo.

The remaining conditions cover compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and environmental laws, including an Environmental Impact Assessment, and payment of all statutory fees. The company must also submit a topographical and obstacle survey and a wind and weather assessment done with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

The ministry said it and its agencies will stay involved at every stage to ensure the project meets International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations. A copy of the letter went to the NCAA, and the company has been asked to work with the agency on implementation.

Princewill promises due process

Princewill said the approval shows the project is moving forward. He thanked those involved, from the President and the minister to the NCAA and the traditional rulers of the area.

"Speed however will not be an excuse for circumventing process,"

He said the company will carry every stakeholder along and listen to reasonable voices. He also said the airport is only part of wider plans.

For the Kalabari people and Rivers State, the project could mean easier travel and new business links if it is built. For now, the approval is a green light to prepare studies and plans, not to start construction.

What happens next

Royal Fouche Services Limited is expected to submit the master plan and the canal, flooding, soil and weather studies, and to settle statutory fees. The NCAA will then oversee how the conditions are met before development moves ahead.